My kid was on the news!

After the recent, disturbing report from AFHS it was nice to hear something good. Brittany’s computer teacher was honored with the Teacher of the Year award by a local news channel. It’s reassuring to know there are still teachers out there that care about the kids and want to teach them. Brit was so nervous during the interview but she did a good job.

Click here to read the report and watch the video clip.

Way to go Mr. Winters and AFHS!

What's wrong with your face?

Morgan has had a rash on her face since around Thanksgiving. It would start to get better and then flare up again. We tried every over-the-counter treatment we could think of (even bag balm) but nothing seemed to work.

I finally made a doctor appointment. When the nurse practitioner said “Molluscum Contagiosum” my mind flashed to a scene from Harry Potter. She explained that it was a viral infection on the skin that is very contagious and could only be properly diagnosed by a dermatologist.

After a trip to the dermatologist I was relieved that he didn’t feel it was the viral infection. He called it “Atopic Dermatitis” and explained that it’s basically a bad case of eczema. The bad news – a tube of non-steroid cream to treat it for two weeks cost about $25. The good news – he found enough samples in his office that we didn’t have to get the prescription filled.

Even better news – after just a few days Morgan’s face looks so much better. The redness and the rash are going away. It still itches sometimes but it’s getting better.

It has been a while since we have gone to the doctor so it was time for something.

{Top Ten Countdown for December}

December was a busy an exciting month! Here is our list of the top ten events.

(It was tough to narrow it down to just ten!)

10. Not what I wanted for Christmas but we got a brand new freezer. The old one died on December 23rd so our options were limited to what was in the store that night when Scott got home at 6:30. With a freezer full of meet, waiting for a freezer to be delivered the following week was not an option.

9. The first graders did a great job performing their songs for the Winter Concert. The favorite song was “Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer.”

And the great thing about short kids is they get to stand in front.



8. Zane and I got to help with Morgan’s class party. We made Reindeer Goodie Bags (using bird seed) so the kids could feed Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve.


We traced their hands for the antlers and Zane insisted that his needed to be turkeys. Fun, fun!

7. We had enough snow for the kids to enjoy sledding behind the four-wheeler. It took a lot of hot cocoa to warm them up but they had a blast.

6. Thanks to a wonderful friend, we played Don’t Eat Pete many times. I had to make a rule that they couldn’t eat the m&ms while looking for Pete because the bits of candy and slobber flying from their laughing mouths was grossing me out. This game was a BIG hit in our home!

5. This year I tried to let the kids help more with decorating the tree. Brittany hid in her room after peeking out to see what we were doing. She said “I heard you saying ‘don’t touch, leave that alone, and don’t put that there’ so I guessed you were decorating the tree.” I’m trying to do better, really I am.

4. I don’t have a picture for this one but spending time with friends and family is definitely on the list. We spent Christmas eve having dinner and visiting with some friends. We spent the day after Christmas with Scott’s sister Erin and her family. (They live so close and yet it seems so hard to get together.) And we spent New Year’s Eve playing games with the neighbors. Lots of fun and lots of laughs!

3. One of our favorite Christmas traditions is baking goodies, to eat and to share. Morgan saw this idea for candy canes made from sugar cookie dough so we tried it. YUMMY!

2. Of course opening Christmas presents was a highlight. For the first time Scott actually had the day off. I made everyone wait until Zane woke up on his own so we didn’t get started until after 9:30. After every present he opened Zane said, “This is exactly what I wanted!” And Morgan was thrilled to get so many Littlest Pet Shops. And Brittany thought I did a good job picking clothes for her. I loved it!

1. Number one was getting the Nintendo Wii for Christmas. We discussed it last year and decided the kids were too young. I gave in this year and we have had so much fun playing as a family. The little ones were having a hard time losing games so I am trying to teach them to say “Good Job!” to the person who wins and not focus on losing. And I have had to let the others beat me at boxing, occasionally.

In spite of a few speed bumps, it was an especially good month. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and we are hoping for all good things in the new year!

Family Pictures 2009

It was 18 degrees as we left our house to have family pictures done. I had my heart set on outdoor pictures and was excited to have a thin layer of snow covering the drab ground. I knew it would be cold but thought surely it would only take a minute to snap a few pictures.

We took our coats off for the first picture but after that Zane and Morgan refused. An icy breeze began to blow which only made it worse. Our wonderful friend, the photographer, worked as quickly as she could to give us several poses to choose from. (She did a fabulous job!)

Scott, Brittany, and I did a pretty good job of pretending it wasn’t that cold. Morgan and Zane though were not so good at faking. They tried to climb inside their coats to find shelter from the cold. In most of the pictures they are making faces that seem to say, “It is too, stinkin’ cold out here! What the heck is Mom thinking! And you want me to smile?!”

Here are just a few of the pictures. . .

(You can't see their red cheeks and noses!)



We're thinking summer for the next family picture.

Swimsuit?

A good swimsuit at a good price is hard to find. I know that most of you are probably not even thinking about swimsuits right now but I have spent the last several months trying to find a new swimsuit. I have been digging through clearance racks and searching the internet to find something that was comfortable and didn’t leave you feeling naked or like an old lady.

Sun Safe Swimwear was featured on our local news the other night and I was so amazed that I have to share. You can see their line of swimwear by going to sunsafeswimwear.biz. These swimsuits cover you and look beautiful. The prices are fairly reasonable too.

So, if you are looking for a swimsuit go check them out.

Feeling Creative

What can you do with a faux pine wreath and shinny Christmas balls? Decorate the front door of course.

After searching for the perfect decoration, I was inspired by my sister-in-law , who was inspired by Pottery Barn, to create a simple wreath for my beautiful red door. (You can see hers by clicking on the link.) I spent $4 on the wreath and $4 on the balls so that is way cheaper than any wreath I could have bought at the store. I have a few larger balls in my stash that I want to add to finish it off but I think it turned out pretty cute.

And I finally finished my “JOY” letters from the relief society activity.

I have one more project currently in the making. Just waiting on some vinyl letters to complete it then I will post another picture. I’m feeling very festive. I think we’ll get the tree setup this weekend. Ho-ho-ho!

{Abducted by Aliens}

All I remember is a flash of light and a whirring noise. I don’t know what happened but when I woke up almost three months later my home was just the way I left it – dirty dishes and all.

All that matters is we are back and have so much to be thankful for.

We had a great Thanksgiving in Oregon and got to see some of our family. We are thankful there was NO snow. And we are thankful for so much good food!

Playing the Wii – I helped Zane KO Morgan.

Brittany had a birthday. She is thankful to be 18 and I am thankful for a few more months before she goes off to college.

I am thankful for a cute little spiderman and an adorable witch.

We are also thankful for sugar cookies!

I am thankful for my princess who was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Love the dress!


Scott is thankful for a new puppy. Zane and Morgan are trying to be thankful also but he chews on them.

“Down Pea!”

Scott is still driving 160 miles everyday and thankful most of the snow has stayed to the north. And I am thankful I finished my work projects and now have time to do get back in the routine.

I am also thankful for this Christmas time when our thoughts turn to showing love and giving service. And I have to admit I am thankful for CYBER DEALS and that my Christmas shopping is done. Now I can focus on decorating and baking goodies to share with friends!